Readout Of Secretary Napolitano's Visit To Stockholm, Sweden

Release Date:

November 15, 2011

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

STOCKHOLM - Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today traveled to Stockholm, Sweden to meet with international partners, and underscore the Department's ongoing commitment to collaborating with our international partners to address cybersecurity as well as combat violent extremism and transnational crime and terrorism.

"Today, the very nature of travel, trade, and commerce means that one vulnerability or gap anywhere across the globe has the ability to impact security thousands of miles away. And that means our security must be a shared responsibility – among governments, the private sector, and individuals and communities," said Secretary Napolitano. "I look forward to continued collaboration with Sweden to address the common threats that impact citizens in both our countries."

While in Stockholm, Secretary Napolitano met with Sweden's Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask, Sweden's State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Frank Belfrage, Sweden's Minister for European Union Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson, Sweden's State Secretaries to the Prime Minister Katarina Mascarenhas, Mikael Sandstrom and Gunnar Wieslander, Sweden's State Secretary to the Minister of Defense Hakan Jevrell, and Director General for Swedish Civil Contingencies Helena Lindberg to discuss the Department's partnership with Sweden to fight international crime and terrorism and protect critical infrastructure. Secretary Napolitano also highlighted progress between the two nations on information sharing agreements to increase bilateral cooperation and international travel security, and enhance collaboration on cybersecurity.

Secretary Napolitano also delivered remarks at an event hosted by the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, underscoring the Department's efforts to foster international collaboration to create a safe, secure and resilient cyberspace. Earlier this month, DHS joined Sweden and other European partners for the Cyber Atlantic 2011 Tabletop Exercise, an innovative joint U.S.–European Union (EU) cybersecurity effort to expand international collaboration efforts geared toward incident management and response.

Yesterday, Secretary Napolitano traveled to Oslo, Norway for bilateral meetings with international security counterparts and to offer condolences at the Oslo Cathedral for the victims of the 7/22 Oslo bombing and attack on Utoya Island. Secretary Napolitano also delivered remarks at an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Norway, emphasizing the Department's continued commitment to working with the private sector and international partners on cybersecurity and securing the global supply chain, and toured the Norwegian Computer Emergency Response Team facility.